Trailer top



Sept 3, 1946. D. E. BRAMBLE TRAILER TOP Filed Jan. 27, 1944 3Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 3, 1946. D. E. BRAMBLE TRAILER TOP Filed Jan. 27,1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M ww 3 Sheevts-Sheefc e 1 -1 y e l- -A im M m@meow M mh. hm. wm. RV l K wh u wx \Nh. .lxsieri?! l L. q k W Y e" v 1K4. ha m. ,s Nxww @5M s ...J un .rn i n D. E. BRAMBLYE TRAILER TOP FiledJan. 27', 1944- v Patented Sept. 3, 1946 UNITED STATES. ,..PATEN TOFFICE TRAILER Tor Donald Earl Bramble, Chicago, Ill., assigner ofone-half to Theodore Bjorn, Chicago, Ill.

Application January`27, 1944, Serial No. 519,862 Y f4 v claims.(01.2964105).

so that the traction vehicle pivotally supports' Y the front end of thetrailer, .orr similar Wheeled vehicle, and permits turning by steeringthe traction vehiclewhile the trailer has a body for receiving andhauling merchandise.

The primary purpose of the invention is to provide a novel top or cover,usually oi canvas or tarpaulin which may be easily and convenientlypulled rearwardly over the vehicle or ,trailer body tor cover andprotect the contents of the 4body especially in inclement weather, andto permit equal facility in drawing the canvas or tarpaulin coverforwardly tothe iront of the body or in the case of a trailer, to therear edge of the .permanent iront part of the body, so as to uncover thetop of the body to facilitate loading and unloading thereof by a craneor otherwise.V

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel, simple,'strong and efficient supporting structure `for a canvas or tarpaulincover constituting the top proper, and means for moving the same inreverse directions to covering and uncovering positions with the leastpossible effort and evenly all around,.the tarpaulin being Y stretchedor pulled taut in covering position and held in a simple and novel wayso as to retain\ its position and not work loose or flap in the windespecially during transportation or While traveling and to maintain itsweathertight position. c

Another object is to provide a novel and strong supporting structure forthe tarpaulin, especially Y with reference to the cross bows over whichthe tarpaulin is arranged'and stretched so as to overlap or hang downover the sides of the trailer, truck or other vehicle body, and themounting of the cross bows or bars constituting a collapsible Y frameover the top of the body for supporting the `tarpaulin and to which thelatter is connected for moving the same in reverse directions in'opening and closing the top; so that said structure'may beY economicallymanufactured and Aeasily installed on bodies initiallyor in applying,

the same to present or already constructed bodies in remodeling orreconstructing the same.

Another important object of the invention is to lprovide anovelsectional telescopic ridge-pole Y designed to support the tarpaulinYcentrallyvand K longitudinally of the body. top between the cross 5bows or bars forming ribs of the top frame across the open` top of thebody` and connectingl the tarpaulin to the cross bars and the movabletelescoping sections of the ridge-pole to the, cross bows so that whenthe tarpaulin of the top or cover is moved to uncovering position, itwill drop down into folds to occupy a compact or minimum space and thesections of the ridge-pole'will be telescoped or moved forwardly into acollapsed position into a tube or other housing protected beneath theroof of the permanent front part of the trailer or truck body, `but willreadily move to operativelextended supporting position when thetarpaulin is extended rearwardly to cover 4the open top of the body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means andstructure so that the cover` may be opened and;-closed without unduefriction, at the same time providing a weathertight connection toprevent the entrance of rain or snow, and also prevent displacement ofthe crossbows and tarpaulin in any direction and permit operation withthe least possible wear and tear.

Another and further object is to provide a novel cable arrangement formoving the top or tarpaulin in either direction by a single operatingmeans or crank at one side near the iront of the body,. while causinguniform movement atfboth sides and in the longitudina1 center of the topand tarpaulin, the actuating cables being arranged ina novel manner andthe guides thereof being enclosed and hidden from view as well 1 asprotected from the weather or damage from the load in the body.

A still further object is to provide novel means for 'holding down theside portions o'raps of the tarpaulin and guiding the same in their 5movements when the top'is opened and closedp and also .to provide meansfor pulling the tarpaulin fand sides or folded longitudinal portionsthereof `v hich extend over the longitudinaltop edges and corners of thebody at the top rails thereof, taut,`rearwardl y and downwardly and foranchoring the same, so as to keep the top and `tarpaulin tight,especially during transportation.

YAxiurther object is to provide novel Vand simple,

means-for connecting the front end and .edge'of the tarpaulin to theiront of the body or rear edge of the permanent front portion ofthe roofthereof as in connection with a trailer, and iny weathertightconnection.

A still further object is to provide a novel antifriction means formovably or slidably supporting the cross bows of the top upon the toprails of the body sides, with tracksJ or guide members to support thesame for movement, and to the structure of the ends of the cross bars orbows and coacting antifriction members or rollers and tracks on whichthe same operate with special regard to facility in mounting the sameand the tracks on the top rails of the sides of the truck or trailerbody, so as to move freely when operated and Imaintain their positionsand relation, as -well as to facilitate the construction and assembly ofthe parts.

Further objects and advantages will appeal' and be brought out morefully in the following speciiication, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a vehicle cover shown as applied to atrailer top, with certain portions broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on theline 2--2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 1 with certainportions broken away and in section.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the device as shown in Figs. l and 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on theline 5 5 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one side of the top withcertain parts broken away and in section, and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. .6, partly brokenaway and in section.

While the invention may be applied to vehicle bodies in general andespecially the wheel type as used in connection with motor vehicles ortrucks, trailers and the like, it is especiallyV adapted and shownapplied to an open top trailer body in which substantially the reartwothirds of the body is open at the top and the front one-third portionis closed and provided with a permanent roof `usually ci theconventional sheet metal type which is solid whereas the rear two-thirdsof the yroof consists of a iiexible cover or tarpaulin of waterprooincanvas or the like, secured to sliding or traveling cross bows which aremoved'from rear to front and vice versa to uncover and cover the opentop portion of the trailer body. Such type of vehicle body is usuallyadapted for hauling dry freight and with the present top, particularlyfor freight which is moreV conveniently loaded by means of a crane,although the body may be loaded and unloaded in any suitable way.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in detail, the body lll isshown provided with a platform or floor ii which may be mounted upon asuitable running gear or frame l2 of which two transversely spacedlongitudinal frame members are shown .adapted to take the running gearwhich in the case of a trailer usually consists of rear ground wheelsand front props by which the motor vehicle is permitted to be releasedfrom its usual pivotal connection with the trailer body by supportingthe front thereof on the props. However, the manner of supporting thebody is immaterial as it may be an ordinary truck body supported by anysuitable ground engaging means. As shown, the body has sides I3 whichmay be of hollow construction with a framev I4 including longitudinalmembers l5 and i vertical members i6 including rear corner posts, al1 ofwhich is suitably connected and braced. The hollow sides are closed atthe outside by a sheet Il usually oi metal and at the inside -by a wallor sheet I3 usually of plywood or Compoboard made up of plies of woodwith the grain running at right angles to each other. The top of thebody is open and the sides are provided with top rails IB alsoconstituting longitudinal members while the back of the body is adaptedto be closed by doors 2@ hinged at 2| and provided with any suitablefastener or bolting means "22 by which it may be secured and if desiredlocked in closed position. The front portion of the `body is closed asindicated at 23, this being the permanent front portion extending aboutone-third of the length of the body and may be it as more particularlyshown in Figs.

the conventional sheet metal type which is solid and provided with apermanent solid roof portion 24 which also may be supported by crossbows or bars 25a as well assioping slightly forwardly to facilitatedraining the same. The sides lf3 may extend to theV transverse or curvedfront portion 25 as shown in Figs. l and 3 ofthe drawings. The rear'edgeof the front roof portion 2li extends transversely and may have avertical edge 25 which in this instance is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 as thevertically extending rear flange or web of an angie bar 2l which issecured to the roof 2i through its horizontal flange or web '28. Thepurpose of this angle bar is to anchor or permanently connect the frontedge 29 of a flexible cover or tarpaulin to of canvas or the like `tothe rear edge of the roof 2d at the front of the open top portion oi thebody and for this purpose said front edge may be folded. over the iiange26 and held by a strip 3i against the folded edge and bolted o-rotherwise secured along the lengths thereof as indicated at 32. Theseparts are preferably of metal but not necessarily so.

The longitudinal side portions of the tarpaulin are preferably providedwith overhanging portions or side flaps 33 which terminate at the rearend of the body or sides l?, thereof and the 'sack end of the tarpaulinis provided with a roar or tail nap 34. 1n the corners of which naglets, or grommets 35 or other suitable me ns may be provided to takeropes or the like for anchoring orrtying down the ends of the dansagainst the sides and back or doors oi the body and holding lthe sametaut and tightly against the sides and doors by anchoring the ends ofthe ropes such as to cleats Si secured to each rear corner post it. Aseam or hem 38 is provided across the rear edge of the tarpaulin and arod :i9 is inserted therein, preferably of one-half inch round metalstock to hold the rear end straight and down against a rear header to bela er described, above the doors.

Secured to and along the top rails is at the top of the sides i3, tracksare provided preferably in the forni of angle rails it? bolted throughthe top raiis as indicated at il through the Vertical Jilanges or websof the angle iron bars preferably at the inner walls of the sides i3 sothat the horizontal webs form tracks extending horizontally outwardlyover the top rails and terminating short of the outer sides or walls ofthe body sides 2 and 5 of the drawings. A plurality of transversely eX-tending cross bows or bars 52 are mounted to move longitudinally of theopen top at suitably spaced intervals, preferably equidistantly, fromVthe roo-.Fiel to a point near the rear end the body. The ends ofthecross bows are Provided with brackets or'end members143 having spacedupper and lower portions bolted through reduced end portions of thecross bows as indicated at 44. The top portions 45 of these end members43 extend outwardly over the tracks and have downwardly extending ordepending portions i3 which together with the spaced inner portions @.l,formv bearings or mounting means for shafts 48v whichv may be xed orrotatable in holes in the portions 46 and d? and on which antifrictionmembers or rollers 49 may be rotatably mounted. The end members haveinwardly extending lowerportions along the tops of the sides-I3 with aminimum of friction but the parts are so interloclredV as to beprotected interior-ly from the effects of inclement weather especiallywith the overhanging side portions or naps 33 covering the same andpreventing the entrance of'rain or snow's'o as to protect the contentsof the body." Fourj cross bows are shown in connection with the rear,and spaced cross bows 24a permanently attached to may be employeddepending Vsomewhat upon the Vthe front roof portion 2li, but anysuitable number length of the body. Short ropes 5l or other suitablemeans may be employed for connecting the tarpaulin'to the cross bows 42preferably on opposite sides of the longitudinal center thereof.

The side naps 33 extend a short distance down over the sides I3 and` maybe slidably connected to the body by providing longitudinal guidemembers 52 shown in the form of cables anchored at their ends tobrackets 53 secured against the sides i3 adjacent each end thereof inspaced relation to and near the top rails and brackets or top edges ofthe body sides so that the cables extend parallel thereto. The side naps33 therefore overlie the cables and may have loops or snap hooks 54detachably and Y slidably engaged with the cables or guide members 52Atopermit disconnecvsolid topror roof. This section 5l may be a oneinchmetal tube and is held in any suitable manner beneath the roof 24 as bydisposing the same in notches 58 in thecross bows or roof Yframe and maybe fastened by metal plates or straps 59.

The next section of the telescopic ridge-pole is shown extending withinthe rear end of the section 5l in 'slightly overlapping relation inextended position and between the rear cross bow of the roof land thedistance between two additional cross bows Q2 and may be a one-half inchmetal pipe or tube. The forward end and intermediate portion of thesection 60 are therefore free to slide with respect to the bows at suchpoints but the rear end is anchored to the cross bow 62 Y at such 'pointas indicated at til by means of a plate or strap secured against thepipe to clamp the'sainey at the top of the bow as is the plate or strap5e or` againstthe front face of the bow and suitably secured by screws,bolts or the like. The rear end of the section 6d receives a section 62of smaller diameter .with its front end extending slightly into the rearend'of the tubular section @il when thetop'is extended, and this section$2 may be la three-eighths inch metal rod. It is slidable with respectto the cross bow 42 to which the Vsection* Ellis anchored and also withrespect tothe cross bow 42 intermediately of the ends thereof, but therearend of the 'section 52 is an- -chored to the rear cross bow 42 asindicated at E3, in any suitable manner or may be simply held by nuts onthe end of the rod section E52 engaging opposite faces of the Across bowat such point.

' will be noted that the rear cross bow i2 is spaced tion as well as topermit the cover or tarpaulin f 3G to be extended rearwardly to coverthe top of the body or to be moved forwardly in collapsed position withdepending folds toward the front of the body whereby to uncovertheopentop of the latter. Suitable turnbuckles or adjustable eyeboltsmay be provided-to connect theV ends of the cables ditto the brackets 53to' take up slack and maintain. the cables taut. guide members 52 mayfberods or .other suitable members as long vas they .are spaced VfromV thesides, or other suitable sliding connection may be made vbetween theside aps 33 and the sides i3.

Extending longitudinally of the body to somewhat brace the cross bowsand better support the `this ridge-pole is extended .longitudinally andcentrally of the body and consists of a plurality of sections lwhich arecollapsible or extensibly relative to each other or'telescopicallyconnected and may consist of Aa tubular section 5l perina- Obviously thev from the rear end of the body and this space is covered bythetarpaulin 3llwhich is shown curving or slanting'down at the back tothe rear or tail flap 4 where the latter bends over a rear header Labovethe doors 2G, forming a rear cross member or bar at the back end of thebody, so as to entirely cover the latter. Thus, Ywhen the tarpauli 38 isdrawn rearwardly'to cover the body, the sections of the ridge-pole 55Aare extended as more particularly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawingsand'when the tarpaulin is moved forwardly to collapsedV or foldedposition whereby to uncover the top of the body. the section 52 movingwith the rear cross bow d2, slides through the cross bows forwardlythereof and-into the tubular section 69 which subsequently moves intothe large tubular section 51 beneath the roof 24, inasmuch as thesesections are also substantially of the same length.

Means'is provided to movev the flexible fabric 5 cover Aor tarpaulin 36to thel positions referred to I by disconnecting the ropes 36 fromthecleats 3l so as to release the side and end naps 33 and 34 y formovement from. the positions in which they Vare tied down andheldagainst the sides and back of the body and the nap 34 may be folded Vorthrown forwardlywith the Vback end of the tarpaulin so as to laythereon, such as forwardly of the rear cross bow 42. The means shown formoving the tarpaulinto cover and uncover the top ofthe body may consistcfa straight transverseV Vshaft tjournaled in suitable bearings on thelongitudinal frame members l2 and side rails 55 cf vthe body at theflooring. One end of the shaft @d is squared and extended to the side ofthe body l as indicated at lil to take a ldetacl'iable crank SS bywhichthe shaft may be turned in either direcnently. anchored in the crossbows 2da. of the 'Y permanent front portion beneath the roof 2d vandextends from the front end to the rear end thereof where it terminatesatthe rear edge of the tion or the shaft may be otherwise suitablydriven manually or by power. The shaft bears a pair of Winches or drums9 which are flxedthereto Y directions. These cables as well as thecables forming the guides 52 may be three-sixteenth inch cables orotherwise. One end of each cable is extended around a verticallyjournaled guide pulley ll in the rear of each winch and then horizontaloutwardly under a horizontally journaled guide pulley l2 suitablysupported by the body or frame substantially beneath the hollow sides i3and then upwardly through the latter between the inner and outer wallsthereof, through suitable holes 'i3 provided in the side frames lil.These cables are then extended horizontally over guide pulleys lfl andthen horizontal rearwardly to the rear corner posts or other suitablevertical frame members, where they are extended around guide pulleys l5and then upwardly near the rear end of the body over guide pulleys lesupported on the top rails I rearwardly of the rear cross bow whenextended and to which the end of the cable is anchored as by suitabletake upV means consisting oi a turnbucklecor eyebolt ll bolted throughthe rear cross bow and held by a nut threaded thereon for adjustment sothat any slack in the cable may betaken up to maintain the cables taut.The other ends of the cables are extended forwardly of the Winchesaround vertically journaled guide pulleys i8 also journaled in the framebeneath the flooring and then outwardly under horizontally journaledguide pulleys l* beneath the hollow sides i3 of the body. from whichpoints, the cables are extended vertically npwardly over guide pulleys8b also mounted on the top rails is. Fromthispoint, thecables extendrearwardly through the cross bows l2 beneath the top or tarpaulin Siiand preferably in the space within the brackets or end members i 63between the top portions l5 and the rollers upon which they may rest andmove freelyV w. i the rotation of the rollers. The rear extremities ofthese end portions of the cables are connected to the rear cross bow inthe same manner the opposite ends by take up devices consistine ofadjustableeyebolts or turnbuckles extended irom the opposite sides orfaces of said cross bow but for the same purpose, namely to take upslack in the cables and maintain the same taut. As will be noted fromFigs. 1, 3, 6 and '7 of the drawings, the'pulleys l5 and 89 are locatedbeyond but adjacent to the'ends of the angle bars or rails @d and mayserve as means for limiting the movements of the cross bows and coverofthe top to4 extended or collapsed positions. in operating the device,the crank E3 is applied to the end @l of the shaft Gil and by turningthe crank and shaft to`th'e left as seen in Fig. 3, the cables l@ whichextend over the top rails and tracks and onto the Winches iidfrorn theguido pulleys le, are wound on the winches while the other portionsleading over the guide pulleys li are unwound, thus moving the rearcross bow di: forwardly until it engages the next cross bow forwardlythereof and then the next cross bow and so on until all of the crossbows have been moved forwardly to the rear cross bow or transverse bar25a of the roof 24 to collapsed position so as to uncover the top of thebody. The top is thus opened and will result in the tarpaulin beingdrawn to the forward portion of the open top oi the body and theportions oi the tarpaulin between the ribs will close in bellows-likefashion anddrop in folds over the ridge-pole As the cro news moveforwardly, the section EiZ of the ridge-pole will move into tubularsection il and these two telescoped sectionswill then move into thehousing section 51 which is held stationary i when the top is closed orextended rearwardly to cover the open top of the body. To do this, it issimply necessary to turn the crank and shaft to the right or in theopposite direction to oppositely wind and unwind cables so as topullrearwardly on the rear cross bow which will successively space thecross bows and extend the cover to the rear of the body in the reverseorder from that in which said parts move when the top is opened asheretofore explained. When so extended, the tarpaulin may be tieddown bydrawing the llaps 33 and 3e together and tightly over the top of thebody by the ropes S53 and anchored to the cleats 3l' so as to positivelyretain the tarpaulin tight whereby the body is maintained weathertightto protectV the contents thereof. Obviously when the tarpaulin or coveris opened and closed in the manner described, it will move along theguide members or cables 52 at the sides of the body by being slidablyconnected therewith and held down during such movements to retain itssmooth condition-to facilitate same by reason of the loops or snaps 54engaging the guide members or cables 52 at such points beneath the sideflaps or overhanging portions 33.- The extensible ridgepole willautomatically collapse or telescope when the top is opened to besimilarly extended when the top is closed by reason of the sectionsthereof being connected at their Yrear ends to certain of the cross bowsin the manner described, and will also help to support and sustain thetarpaulin Vinstead of permitting the same to drop down at the centerbeneath the cross bows either in open or closed position and alsofacilitate draining of the top or roof of the body. Aside from thepermanent orY solid roofy portion 2li, the device may be economicallyproduced and applied initially to trailer or other truck bodies, or tothose heretofore constructed for modication in accordance with thepresent invention.

While any suitable means may be employed for fastening the rear doors253, the fastener or bolting means 22 is shown engaging keepers at thetop and bottom of the body at the back and the doors terminate at thetop below the rear or tail ap 3A beneath which and at the top of thebody at the back a solidv or one piece rear header 8i is provided,anchored by means of removable pins 82 at the ends engaging interttinghinge loops or eyes 63 carried by the endsof the header and the rearends of the sides at the rear corner posts d so that when the rear ortail nap 345 is raised or the top is open, a pin may be removed fromeither end of the rear header so that it may be swung open horizontallyon its hinge or pivot to either side so that the entire back of the bodyis open and unobstructed when the doors are opened. Of course, since thedoors 20 do not extend as high as the lower edge of the rear or tail napall, the doors may be opened at any time by unbolting the fastener 2 l,withoutdisturbing the rear or tail nap. y

While V have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into efect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth but desire to avail myself of suchVariations and modifications as come `within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a vehicle body having an open top, sidesextending to the top of the body, a permanent front portion having aroof and a transverse member at the rear of the roof with a verticalportion, a tarpaulin having its front edge anchored to said portion,cross bows having antifriction members movable along the top of thesides and associated therewith to prevent lateraland upward displacementof the cross bows, connections between the cross bows and the tarpaulin,a collapsible ridge-pole extending longitudinally of the body at thebows and movable with certain of the latter to a collapsed position atthe front portion, and means connected to the rear cross bow to move thecross bows and tarpaulin to positions to cover and uncover the body.

2. In combination with a vehicle body having an open top, closed sidesand a iront, said sides extending to the top of the body, spaced crossbows having antifriction members at the ends thereof, rails at the topof the sides along which said friction members are adapted to move, asectional telescopic ridge-pole extending longitudinally of the top ofthe body and comprising sections adapted to move relatively with thecross bows to telescope at the front of the body, a tarpaulin connectedto the bows and having a tail flap and side naps, and guide memberssecured to the outer faces of the body sides and slidably connected tothe side flaps.

3. In combination with a vehicle body having an open top, closed sidesand a front, said sides the body and connected to the cross bows to beextended rearwardly to cover the body, cables connected to the rearcross bows at opposite sides of the body, said cables having portionsextending along the top of the body sides and then downwardly adjacentthe front end of the tarpaulin and other portions extending downwardlyadjacent the rear of the body and then forwardly and downwardly, guidemeans on the sides for said cables, a transverse shaft suitablyjournaled adjacent the bottom of the body, drums on said shaft on whichsaid cables are wound in opposite directions and means for turning theshaft to cover and uncover the body.

4. In combination with a trailer body having sides, a front portion witha permanent roof and a transverse rear edge, spaced cross bows havingtheir ends movable along the top edges of the sides substantially inline with the roof, a ridgepole comprising telescopic sections movableone within the other and including a stationary front section beneaththe roof, the movable sections being connected at their rear yends tocertain of the cross bows, a tarpaulin connected at its front end to thetransverse rear edge of the roof and to the cross bows, and meansconnected to the tarpaulin through the rear bow to move the tarpaulininto positions to cover and uncover the body.

5. In combination with a truck or trailer body open at the top, spacedcross members having their ends movable along rails at the top of thebody sides and held from lateral and vertical displacement relativethereto, and an extensible ridge-pole comprising sections movablerelatively the length of the open top and contiguously when retracted,each section being secured to a cross member to move successivelytherewith.

6. In combination with a truck or trailer body open at the top, spacedcross members having their ends movable along rails at the top of thebody sides and held from lateral and vertical displacement relativethereto, and an extensible ridge-pole comprising sections movablerelatively the length of the open top and contiguously when retracted,means to move the sections successively, a tarpaulin over the open topand anchored at one end and to the cross members, and means connected tothe opposite end of the tarpaulin to move the same in oppositedirections to cover and uncover the open top of the body.

7. In combination with a truck or trailer body open at the top, spacedcross members having their ends movable along rails at the top of thebody sides and held from lateral and vertical displacement relativethereto, and an extensible ridge-pole comprising sections movablerelatively the length of the open top and contiguously when retracted,and means to move the sections successively.

DONALD EARL BRAMBLE.

